Dance Awards adds another string to the bow
Opportunities for Guernsey dancers to showcase their talent have increased this year, following the introduction of the first Guernsey Dance Awards.
More than 250 individual, couple, group and school dancers took to the stage over a long weekend at Beau Sejour in front of a professional judging panel.
Scores were based on an average instead of one judge’s preference to ensure fairness.
Event organiser Jodie Lee Chipperfield said that having the opportunity outside of the biennial Guernsey Festival of Dance meant that children would be more likely to work hard at their respective dance schools.
View and buy photos from the Guernsey Dance Awards through the Guernsey Press Picture Store
‘I started the Jersey Dance Awards six years ago because at the time the only other event was the Eisteddfod, which happens every second year,’ she said.
‘If children wanted to do more it meant a lot of time off-island. This year is the first year that we’ve done the Guernsey Dance Awards and that is because a lot of Guernsey dance schools asked us if we could after attending ours in Jersey.
‘It took a while to get it all together but it has been a huge success.’
Children aged four and upwards competed in a range of genres, including ballet, street, tap, contemporary, acro and Greek.
‘Coming from the Channel Islands, and as a professional dancer, I know the feeling of leaving Jersey,' said Mrs Chipperfield.
'I went to Bird College at 16 where all my fellow students had a lot more opportunities in musicals and things.
‘Some of them had been in West End shows because they lived in London.
‘There are more opportunities now. There is so much talent in Guernsey and Jersey, it would be such a shame if it was wasted.’
Mrs Chipperfield hopes to bring back the Guernsey Dance Awards in 2026.
